With its faraway history written by warriors, heroes, and fighters of all sorts, Turkish people are now fighting the effects of the recent earthquake. An awakening is sorely needed, but does the country have what it takes? Does it have the capacity to fight not one, but two natural disasters: The greater one being the claws of its regressive tribalistic tendencies, and its manifestation in the form of a single, powerful figure: Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The recent set of earthquakes paved a path to a newer perspective, especially after the government’s decision to practically close down all higher educational institutions until further notice,* while better alternatives could easily be found.

From an Old Fight to a New One

Let me explain what I mean by this with a little history: Vast majority of the Turkish population was severely under-educated at the start of the 20th Century. Thus, any form of social cohesion or consciousness was practically nonexistent. The only socio-political tool in the hands of the governing elite was religion, a downtrodden one at that. However, a nationalist ethos was beginning to take shape around this time, heavily influenced by the renaissance and French Republican movements.

Coming from this intellectual vein, it was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk that rallied the resistance and led the war of independence against Allied forces across the country. An outstanding visionary as he was a military genius, he sought to “bestow” enlightenment to his people who were largely in Dark Ages. Despite his charisma and favorable status as a war hero, he had limited success in doing so.

So much so his efforts in establishing modern educational institutions, and political and democratic participation were usually thwarted or undermined by his comrades closest to him. Yet he kept trying his best for the country and pushed himself to an early grave in the process. So did the dreams of a modern nation die with his last breath. Herein starts the recent times of trouble that Turkey is in.

Match Not Found

A misfit occurred in all corners of the nation. Turkish people were unfamiliar with the ideas of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. This came with natural unpreparedness; the nation as a whole was not ready to partake in global contemporary intellectual standing. Thus, immediately after the Founder’s death, aspiring politicians assumed the “fact” that it was not within their power to change this societal phenomenon. So they leaned towards the easier, more profitable and well-tried method: To misuse and manipulate the masses using their religion as the primary sensitivity.

Fast-forwarding to the current day, Erdogan and his machinations of governance are nothing but a by-product, a result of decades** of playing with powers of Middle Age scholasticism in a rather suitable population. The man is nothing but this bigoted worldview in human form. But the efforts of the Founder did not vanish without a trace, it instilled hope for a better future. A better future that, if for nothing, the religious thought being kept from seeping into all corners of the people. There have been a persistent few that believed in such a future. In fact, it was these people that kept Turkey from succumbing to cesspits of formal religious rule as many countries of the same religion did so.

At the end of the day, there has been, and still is, a rupture between the religious fanatics and those who favor enlightenment, each trying to pull things closer to their side. Mostly well-meaning but malformed enlighteners have almost always been on the losing end, and the fault, sadly, lies on both sides. But sooner or later this dichotomy will lead to a widespread clash, a series of turmoils, similar to the ones after Martin Luther.

Turmoil to End All Turmoils?

Who knows, maybe such is the fate of societal transformations. But one thing is certain: Thousands screamed as they died: Hungry, terrified, and freezing to their deaths. Whereas the ones that were tasked to relieve such a disaster were on halt, calculating their political agenda, with no one to take the helm on the field; fearing somehow angering Erdogan with an “overstep”. For the ones that can see, there is no more time to lose, and no more generation to waste in this senselessness. Thus, the recent earthquakes showed yet another critical urgency. A critical urgency to stand up, to fight and overturn this disaster of a mindset in the renaissance’s favor. If for nothing, echoes of death under debris demand it!

*: This was done due to the “necessity” to relocate earthquake-stricken populations into student dormitories. Unable to find a place to stay in their universities, the students are sent to their homes to pursue “online education”.

**: Centuries even, if we are to include the late Ottoman era.